Successful Heart Transplant in India - Experience of Mr Anatoly of Kazakhstan

Courage can come in different forms. For this Kazak family, this meant leaving everything in their home country and traveling to India for treatment. We spoke to Natalia Oleinikov over the phone about her father’s heart transplant in India. Their story is one of resilience and a spirit to never give-up in the face of difficult circumstances.

Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Natalia, I live in Moscow. My father Anatoly Oleinikov was treated in Global Hospital Chennai, he is 70 years old.

What was the reason you came to India?

My father had two heart attacks, the first one was on 1st January 2017, this resulted in heart failure. He, therefore, needed a donor heart transplant. We tried other countries and hospitals but were denied because of the age of my father.

What made you choose Global Hospital?

Vaidam offered us multiple options and got answers to the questions we had. Eventually, we decided to go with Global as the doctors seemed pretty confident about the treatment they were to give my father and also it is one of the best heart transplant hospitals in India. We were impressed with the profile and work of Dr. Sandeep Attawar, one of the top 10 best cardiologists in India. It also seemed like a very good hospital and fit out budget very well. 

Tell us about your journey to India?

In the beginning, it was very difficult for my parents. My parents are citizens of Kazakhstan. Price for treatment is very expensive, but there was no other way out. Otherwise, my father would have died.

My father and mother arrived in Chennai on January 30, 2018. They were picked up from the airport and taken to the guest house. Everything coordinated by Vaidam.

Did your parents face difficult in communicating, especially since they don’t speak English?

Amongst others, we had help from friends Jaia and Oles who were prompt to help us translate to the doctors and medical staff. They also helped with solutions of many domestic problems.

How did his treatment go?

We received a donor heart after 5 months of wait. My family showed exemplary courage and patience waiting to see this day. 

His transplant surgery thankfully went very well. He was treated by the team headed by Dr.Sandeep Attawar and other members Dr. Arul and Dr.Ravi Kumar played a major role. I am in Russia, and my father is in India, yet, but judging by the photos and conversations with him, he's better than before the operation.

The entire staff of the Global Hospital Chennai is very professional and responsive, from the junior medical staff and to the doctors. The doctors, thank you very much and bow low. They were ready to help every minute. They solved any of our problems regarding his health, which arose a lot.

What is their next course of action?

My dad and mom are flying out of Chennai and I will meet them after 5.5 months. They are both eagerly awaited by children, grandchildren and all relatives in Russia.

Is there anything that you would like to say about the hospital?

There is nothing negative about the hospital. There were some problems with the food. In the canteen, there was no food matching our Russian pallete. We had to bring food from Russia to my parents.

Your final thoughts?

I have nothing negative to say about the hospital. They were all very friendly and my heart is filled with gratitude for the help we received from Doctors, Global Hospital 's Staff and Vaidam Health.

My family is now going to move to Moscow and live with me. Hopefully, I will have the health facilities to take care of my father.